Ichthyosis is a typical skin complication associated with a very dry, scaly skin. There are some cases, where the skin grows thicker and harder. Ichthyosis originates from a genetic mutation passed from one or both parents to a child. A cure for this disease is not yet available, but medication is used, and aids to relieve the dryness and addresses the skin disorder symptoms. There are several types of Ichthyosis, they include;
1. Ichthyosis Vulgaris
Ichthyosis Vulgaris is a genetic mutation that is often passed down by both parents. Children who inherit it from both parents have severe reactions compared to those who get it from a single parent. This skin disorder slows skin regeneration and shedding, which leaves your skin with a build-up of dead skin. It is often known as fish skin, and the cracks run deep and are very sore. The top skin is normally darker than the one in the cracks. The skin becomes painful, extremely dry, and flaky. Ichthyosis Vulgaris is mild in many cases, and it’s often mistaken for dry skin, but there are cases where it’s severe, especially if you live in very dry or cold environments.
2. Lamellar Ichthyosis
Lamellar Ichthyosis is another skin disorder characterized by dry skin, abdominal nail grown and turning out of the eyelid. The primary management method used for kids is to keep their skin moisturized with petroleum-based oils. As the kids grow, we ought to do more skin rejuvenation routine for them. You can get artificial tear drops to prevent the cornea from drying out. Keeping the skin moisturizer helps to prevent cracking, which may cause infections, especially in infants.
3. Epidermolysis hyperkeratosis
This skin disorder is present during birth, where the child is born with extremely red skin covered with blisters. When the sensitive skin is exposed, it leads to dehydration due to a lack of protection by the normal skin. At a younger age, kids may develop infections associated with blisters. The effect decreases with age, and they get thicker coats, but they do not advance to be scaly like other types of ichthyosis disorder. Like the first two, the epidermolysis hyperkeratosis is genetically obtained by the child through genetic mutations.
4. Nonbullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma
This condition is common in newborn children who are born with a tight collodion membrane. After two weeks, the membrane peels off, exposing the child’s red skin full of white scales. The early exposure may result in infections and dehydration, which may cause respiratory issues earlier in the child’s life.
5. X-linked Ichthyosis
X-linked Ichthyosis is a rare skin disorder present in males, and it is an effect of steroid sulfatase. It causes the skin to be scaly around the neck, trunk, and lower body. The symptoms decrease with age and with the change of seasons; during summer, the symptoms are way easier to manage than during winter. Female patients don’t get this disorder, but they can be carriers of the disease. Females do not get reaction to their skin, but they may face some physical and mental challenges during and after child birth.
6. Harlequin Ichthyosis
Harlequin Ichthyosis is the most critical of all skin disorders. It is common in newborn babies whose skin splits and alters the child’s physical features, exposing the interior parts of a child. Children born with this condition need to put in a neonatal intensive care unit immediately to prevent dehydration, freezing, and suffocation. Infants with Harlequin Ichthyosis are attended to for the first weeks of life until the thick skin completely peels off as they take antibiotics to prevent infections.
Children are the most delicate with Ichthyosis, and they need special attention since their tolerance on the effects of Ichthyosis is very low. For instance, infants born with Harlequin Ichthyosis must undergo intensive care. Otherwise, kids born with it may only stay alive for a few days if neglected. As part of the management plan of Ichthyosis, parents should share information about it with their physician before birth to plan and their children.
Ichthyosis’s general management recommendation is to hydrate the body well by taking fluids and using petroleum-based oils to moisturize the skin. Further adults can shower more often to relieve the effects. You can ask your nutritionist to guide you through some diets and supplements that can help your body with the regeneration of your skin cells.
